An Invitation to DO SOMETHING about the Environment

In a world that sometimes feels like it’s going to hell in a handbasket (and the handles of the hand-basket are ratty and chafing), Life in the Boomer Lane invites you to step back and ask the following: “What kind of world to we want for our grandchildren?” LBL’s own answer is “One that is better, in many ways, than this one.”

Let’s start with a topic close to LBL’s heart, the environment. She would say “With all due respect to legislators who consistently avoid taking action on environmental issues…,” but she has no due respect for them. They, and some of the titans of industry and media have seen fit to present a version of what is happening to the environment that is based, not on a concern for the planet, but rather on a concern for the money it would cost to clean it up. Let’s face it: Taxpayers would have to pay. Big business would have to pay. And, since any legislation that negatively affects wallets is deemed wrong from the get-go, it’s a lot easier to either deny that the problem exists or mire it down in endless discussions of whether it exists and, if so, to what degree.

While this goes on, the planet reacts. Weather systems become increasingly violent and erratic. Species go out of business. Food shortages start showing up. Political upheaval becomes more and more a matter of a fight for resources, masked as religious and political discord.

If you love to garden, know that the characteristics of your garden have already been impacted. If you walk, you are seeing fewer species of plants and trees. If you travel, the topography you are looking at is changing. If you engage in any number of pastimes that older Americans enjoy, know that you do so in a fragile environment. You may not be aware of it, but the changes are occurring.

We of the older generation watch and are appalled. If we have done nothing to take a stand for the welfare of our grandchildren and for the grandchildren of others, then what is it we have been doing with our lives? There is only one recourse, and that is to take action.

On September 9 and 10 , Grandparents Day, The Elders Climate Action Committee of Conscious Elders Network will bring elders from across the country to DC, to talk to our political leaders about taking a strong position on stopping the runaway train of climate change and carbon emissions, and preserving the richness of the environment for our grandchildren and future generations. We will advocate for specific legislation that independent research shows is best for the climate as well as our economy.

We need your help. We need feet on the ground on that day, to go to the Capitol and speak with lawmakers. We need bloggers to blog, social media-types to social mediate, churches and temples to join in, and anyone who cares about the welfare of the planet to spread the word. PLEASE don’t just read this and move on to something else. Your grandchildren are depending on you.

If you come to DC to be a part of the day, stay with LBL. How can you turn down that opportunity? She will show you the actual desk she sits at and the laptop she uses in order to spew the words across cyberspace that then cause you to spew your coffee. At the very least, email her and she will answers any questions you may have about the events of the day and about visiting DC.

Let’s use our power and our commitment to make this a better world for our grandchildren and all the generations that follow.

What a fantastic post. I just shared it facebook, visited Elders Climate Action, joined, and marked my calendar for Sept. 9 amd 10. I don’t have my own grandchildren, but I DO care about everyone else’s.

Not enough answers, sorry , not that smart. But, shortage of anything and money get action. Most of the technology to be sustainable could easily be in place. Oh, yes, the world is changing, it’s what we can depend on. Soo, use that productively. Last weekend in Canada east of Detroit, miles of windmills – rotors near 300 ft. diameter in over 25 mph wind. You get the gist. Days worth of power generated in just one day. Now the farmer engineer would not waste heat creating electricity and storing it in a battery (note, some new batteries could be really efficient) – more waste – get it back out – more waste. Is there a way around this? Probably- go directly to heat? Dangerous? of course! Ya figure it out–

I’ve read enough to know that sustainable technology is a mixed bag, for sure. Sometimes, more energy is spent on creating the technology than the actual energy it saves. But there are some things that have proven to be productive, like dealing with carbon emissions.

LBL!!! Thank you so much for posting this amazing article based on the comment I sent you about this huge opportunity for elders to get involved with climate change. As you so brilliantly (as always) expressed, our generation is THE generation that has the influence (largest voting bloc and life perspective) to impact this issue. We are in the process of creating our registration page on eldersclimateaction.org so hopefully your readers will have patience with our website and know that if you join, we will keep you updated so you can officially register when we open the doors. So glad you are joining us!

Thank you, Ellyn, for inspiring me. Being a member of Conscious Elders and of Elders Climate Action is such an amazing way to put the wisdom and the power we have at this time in our lives into making a real difference. I’ll be continuing to post updates on my blog as time goes on.

Seriously, though, this is a great opportunity. And though my days of being able to be out In Those crowds protesting, I will figure out, through these helpful links, how to help. Because it is everybody’s responsibility.

Thanks, Elyse! Keep checking the website and the newsletter. We have been talking about including info each month about how people all over the country can make a difference. Yes, spell check is a downer sometimes. I should publish my texts. They are hilarious.

Renee, this is well said. Thanks for the heads- up on the group. We are thinking alike today, so please check out my post today on Religions concern over the environment and the collective push, being aided by the Pope. We have to push this issue due to its importance. Thanks, BTG

Thanks. This will need to be a ground up initiative supported by forward thinking companies and groups of constituents. Facebook, Google and Amazon are trying to stop some regressive legislation in NC that would hamper NC’s huge success with solar energy that led them to select the state for data centers.

A very important and exciting part of Grandparents Climate Action Day is that Jim Hansen, the renowned NASA climate scientist is our keynote speaker. We are now working on securing an elder empowerment speaker. If you join Elders Climate Action you will receive our monthly newsletter that will keep you informed of event details as they unfold. http://Www.eldersclimateaction.org

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